variants
or counter-attacks
as in attacks
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack
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Recent Examples of counterattacks
Syrskyi said Ukraine is conducting a strategic defensive operation designed to contain Russian advances, inflict heavy losses, and launch counterattacks where vulnerabilities appear.
—
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Arkansas had done well to prevent Washington from breaking out on counterattacks throughout the match.
—Anthony Kristensen, Arkansas Online, 21 Nov. 2025
The French emperor was forced to retreat amid the harsh Russian winter, dwindling supplies and fierce counterattacks.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
Ukrainians outnumbered, under fire Ukraine in recent days has launched counterattacks to push Russian forces back from the northern edge of Pokrovsk and keep a road there open to Myrnohrad.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
For its part, the Ukrainian military has claimed to have recovered some 70 square miles of territory in the Pokrovsk area over the past two months, in a series of counterattacks.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Ukraine’s use of Tomahawks — subsonic cruise missiles that can strike targets from 1,000 miles away —would give the country the ability to ramp up its counterattacks on Russia.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
That’s in part due to throwing all the chips in the middle and not being ready for counterattacks.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
When a partner continually feels trapped behind excuses or counterattacks, the original frustration then hardens into resentment.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Arkansas had done well to prevent Washington from breaking out on counterattacks throughout the match.
—Anthony Kristensen, Arkansas Online, 21 Nov. 2025
The French emperor was forced to retreat amid the harsh Russian winter, dwindling supplies and fierce counterattacks.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
Ukrainians outnumbered, under fire Ukraine in recent days has launched counterattacks to push Russian forces back from the northern edge of Pokrovsk and keep a road there open to Myrnohrad.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
For its part, the Ukrainian military has claimed to have recovered some 70 square miles of territory in the Pokrovsk area over the past two months, in a series of counterattacks.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Ukraine’s use of Tomahawks — subsonic cruise missiles that can strike targets from 1,000 miles away —would give the country the ability to ramp up its counterattacks on Russia.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
That’s in part due to throwing all the chips in the middle and not being ready for counterattacks.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
When a partner continually feels trapped behind excuses or counterattacks, the original frustration then hardens into resentment.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattacks
Noun
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The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
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Ukraine's security service said that five rescue workers suffered injuries while responding to the site of ongoing attacks.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Shyriaiev is holed up in Sumy, a strategically important oblast that borders Russia, and has been the centerpiece of Ukrainian counteroffensives this fall.—
Chris Massaro,
FOXNews.com,
17 Nov. 2025
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Then, Ukraine reclaimed significant ground in Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts during counteroffensives.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
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As in previous years, almost all the assaults on responsible growth management start with the premise that local government leaders can’t be trusted to guide (or even listen to) their own communities.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Wednesday’s ballistic missile launches by North Korea were the first of their kind since the country on May 8 tested short-range systems that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against US and South Korean forces.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterattacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattacks. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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